The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : In the shadow of a storm

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Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

In the shadow of a storm

Staff Reporter

‘Nargis’ will bring monsoon-type rain to coastal Karnataka

— Photo Courtesy: India meteorological Department

A satellite image of cyclone “Nargis’, which rages over the Bay of Bengal.

Bangalore: Candidates contesting the coming Assembly elections in the State can hope for a few days of respite from the scorching sun as they traverse their constituencies seeking votes.

“Nargis,” a cyclonic storm that is gathering strength over the Bay of Bengal, some 550 km east of Chennai, will bring almost “monsoon-type” rain to coastal Karnataka, and lower temperatures by at least a couple of degrees in Bangalore, according to A. Muthuchami, Director of the Meteorological Centre.

Karnataka may not be in its direct path of destruction, but is experiencing the cyclone’s “shadow effect,” according to M.B. Rajegowda, Professor of Agrometeorology, University of Agricultural Sciences.

Welcome break

As for Bangalore, this will mean a welcome break from the relentless heat.

In fact, the temperature that hovered in the realm of 34 to 35 degrees Celsius all week, in the city, suddenly fell to 32 degrees Celsius on Monday as the clouds moved in.

“The cyclone winds exceed normal wind speed for this time of the year, crossing 20 kmph, and Bangalore will be considerably cooler,” he says.

In coastal Karnataka, unseasonable weather, almost like the monsoon, with clouds, wind and rain will prevail for the next two or three days, Mr. Muthuchami adds.

Cyclone

Cyclones are not uncommon in the month of April. “Nargis,” however, which is swirling at a speed of around 90 kmph (as of now), is nowhere as severe as its predecessor “Sidr,” which devastated parts of Bangladesh in November last, Mr. Muthuchami said.

But the cyclone is likely to intensify. “The low-pressure system on Saturday turned into a deep depression on Sunday and the cyclone is likely to intensify further as it moves north,” he said.

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